The growth in the use of energy-curable technologies remains a bright spot in numerous industries, ranging from graphic arts to a wide variety of coatings. The ability to instantly cure a product in an environmentally friendly manner while providing improved performance characteristics makes for a strong case for UV and EB technologies.

The ability to instantly cure a product in an environmentally friendly manner while providing improved performance characteristics makes for a strong case for UV and EB technologies.

There is much research and product development being done in the UV/EB field, and RadTech 2012 Technology Expo & Conference, opening today and running through May 2 at the Hyatt Regency in Chicago, IL, illustrates many of the gains being made in the field.

There will be seven End User Sessions – Printing & Packaging, Field Applied and LED today and Environmental, Health & Safety, Sustainability, UV Curing for 3D Substrates and UV Curing for Finger Nails tomorrow. Meanwhile, he Technical Conference features 24 sessions overall during the next three days, with two tracks running concurrently.

There is also a short course on Water Based UV Finishing for Wood on May 2, and a New Product Debut, which is slated for May 1.

Howard Ragin, business director, DSM Coating Resins, serves as president of RadTech North America, said he expects a great conference this year.

“Thanks to the efforts of our members and the relevance of our programming, we expect to see many more end users at this event,” Mr. Ragin said. “As an example, our Printing and Packaging Committee has an outstanding end user session. Of considerable note is the participation of Stephen Klump of Nestle at our event. With so much activity in the food packaging space, this first-rate session is a certain draw.

“Our exhibit floor is sold out,” Mr. Ragin added. “We will also surprise many with several new or emerging technology award winners, including a high school student who developed a potential unique application for our technology. It’s all very exciting.”

“This RadTech conference and show look to be the very best quality ever, despite the complication of immediately preceding drupa,” added Dr. Don Duncan, RadTech president-elect and director of research at Wikoff Color. “There’s been more energy spent on generating quality content and recruiting interesting, and perhaps controversial, speakers than ever before.”

More than 80 exhibitors will be on hand for RadTech 2012, and they are optimistic about UV/EB’s future.

According to Joe Coffey, Shamrock Technologies’ manager UV applications, Shamrock Technologies expects to have a good show with a significant number of stand visitors.

“We’ve done a lot of homework over the past year,” Mr. Coffey said, “and are planning on several meaningful discussions with formulators regarding their anti-block, feel, slip, and mar-resistance needs.”

“The current market for UV and EB curable materials is trending positive,” said Dr. Mike J. Idacavage, director of business development, Esstech, Inc. “While much of the low hanging fruit has been picked, there is continued interest by companies using other technologies to take a close look at the benefits that UV and EB curable materials bring to the table.”

“We are very excited about RadTech 2012,” said James Zawicki, manager, marketing communications, Sartomer USA, LLC. “The RadTech organization and volunteers have worked diligently to increase the number of end users attending the conference, and we are looking forward to some informative, top-notch technical presentations, as well as excellent meetings, and conversations.”